Image Credit: Alpecin-Deceuninck/FacePeeters
Van der Poel will ride the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2023 on a bike dedicated to his grandfather Poulidor
Today’s special stage for the Tour de France 2023, which after 35 years rediscovers the historic climb to the Puy de Dôme. Today’s stage has not only an important finish, but also the start.
The start of the ninth stage will be given from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, the home of French cycling legend and Mathieu van der Poel’s grandfather, Raymond Poulidor. For the occasion Alpecin-Deceuninck decided to pay tribute to the grandfather of the Dutch phenomenon with a special Canyon that will be ridden by MVDP.
The 28-year old Dutchman was also moved when he remembered his grandfather this morning. Despite wearing glasses, van der Poel could not hide his tears on the podium at the team presentation. Mathieu himself said that he will not wear a special jersey for this stage, but will have a coat of arms saying ‘Merci Poupou’ and purple stripes on his shorts.
(All pictures and articles, copyright @ by the author, we use, are for editorial and non-commercial usages only)